Chemotherapy Biotherapy Certification ONS Practice Testq

Which class of drugs is known for incorporating into DNA and leading to false message transmission?

1. Hormones

2. Antitumor antibiotics

3. Antimetabolites

4. Mitotic inhibitors

The correct answer is: Antimetabolites

The correct answer refers to antimetabolites, which are a class of drugs that interfere with normal metabolic processes, specifically those involved in DNA synthesis. These medications mimic the structure of naturally occurring substances in the body, allowing them to incorporate into the DNA during replication. When they insert themselves into the DNA or RNA, they can lead to the production of defective nucleic acids, resulting in the transmission of false messages within the cell. This disruption can halt cell division or lead to cell death, making antimetabolites effective in targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells. Other classes, while they have significant roles in cancer treatment, do not primarily function through this mechanism. Hormones influence cellular processes through different pathways, antitumor antibiotics exert cytotoxic effects through direct interaction with DNA but do not fundamentally mimic the building blocks of DNA, and mitotic inhibitors prevent cell division by affecting microtubule function instead of DNA incorporation. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the specific actions and applications of antimetabolites in cancer therapy.